Roof-gage for squares.



0. GIDNEY.

ROOF GAGE FOR SQUARES.

APPLICATION FILED 0GT.16, 1911.

1 ,O47,04;1 Patented Dec. 10, 1912.

III \NWW IIIIIIIVT I l ylllllllllllllllllll/ll ll'lllll/llll COLUMBIAPLANOGRADH c0., WASHINGTON, D C.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

OMAR GIDNEY, OF ONTARIO, CALIFORNIA.

ROOF-GAGE FOR SQUARES.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, OMAR GIDNEY, a citizen of the United States,residing at- Ontario, in the county of San Bernardino, State ofCalifornia, have invented new and useful Improvements in Roof-Gages forSquares, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates broadly to a device whereby any desired angle maybe measured and marked upon roof timbers, stairs and the like; and theprime object thereof is the provision of an instrument which can be usedto quickly and accurately determine and lay out, without any preliminarycomplications, all angular cuts on various building members such asstairs,j0ists and rafters, and particularly for obtaining the cuts andlengths of rafters. For this reason I designate my invention a roof gagefor squares; but it will be evident that my device may be used for anypurpose to which it is applicable-and it is applicable to any use of thenature above indicated.

The specific object of the present invention is to provide a devicewhich may be easily used for all the purposes above set forth in theform of a simple attachment for an ordinary carpenters square.Heretofore, so far as I am aware, devices of this character (to do thewok above outlined) have been devices of some complication, having beeneither special tools, or attachments attachable to an ordinarycarpenters square only by special changes in the square itself, orattachments attachable to an ordinary carpenters square through themedium of unwieldy or inconvenient clamping memhere.

It is my object to overcome all of the 0bjections to this class ofdevices and to supply a device which may be easily attached to anordinary carpenters square, without any change whatever in the square,which may be easily adjusted to any desired position on the square, andwhich is easily handled, simple, efficient and inexpensive ofmanufacture.

In other Words, rather than the object of my invention being to providea device which will perform some new work, the object of my presentinvention is the provision of a simple and inexpensive and easilyhandled device to do all of the work which has heretofore requireddevices of more complication and of greater cost, and to do all ofSpecification of Letters Patent.

Application filed October 16, 1911.

Patented Dec. 10, 1912. Serial No. 654,935.

this work with maximum ease to the carpenter.

Broadly, my invention consists in a suitable straight edge bar providedwith certain means for securing to an ordinary carpenters square; and itis to these securing means that my invention is specifically directed.By my novel securing means I am enabled to easily and quickly secure thestraight edge or bar on any ordinary carpenters square in any desiredposition, and to change that position as often as necessary, and toplace the straight edge accurately for any desired operation.

I have shown a preferred form of my invention in the accompanyingdrawings, in which:

Figure 1 is a plan view showing my invention attached to a square as foractual use. Fig. 2 is an enlar ed section taken on line 2-2 of Fig. land illustrating the holding means. Fig. 3 is an enlarged plan of theportions shown in Fig. 2.

As my invention resides particularly in my novel means for securing astraight edge to a carpenters square, I have only illustrated in detailthis method and mechanism of securing the parts together; I have notgone into detail in showing the different work which ma be accomplishedby an device.

In the drawings 5 designates an ordinary carpenters square having longand short legs 6 and 7 respectively, this square being of any ordinarydimensions and configuration. My device is composed in a bar 8, forminga straight edge and having two pins 9 with enlarged heads 9 set therein,the heads being sufliciently above the face of the bar 8 to overhang thesquare 5 as is best shown in Fig. 2. The inner edges of the square legsare placed against and under these pins as is shown in Fig. l. The outeredges of the square are engaged by members 10. These members are formedwith one or more projections 11, preferably of unequal length so as togive greater adjustability to the device, and each member 10 ispivotally mounted on a bolt 12 which is in turn mounted upon the end ofbar 8. A thumb nut 13 presses down on a washer 14 resting upon the uppersurface of members 10, so that each of the members 10 may be set in anydesired position. The position taken by these members will depend uponthe position of the square 5; their variability is indicated by theshowing in Fig. 1, where one of the members 10 is shown with its longestprojection 11 against the edge of the square and the other is shown withits projection of medium length against the edge of the square. Fordifi'erent angular positions of the square the different projections maybe used; and these projections are so gaged in length that the squaremay be placed at any desired angle on the bar 8, or the bar 8 may beplaced at any desired position on the square 5, and securedin thatposition by merely turning the members 10 and tightening them by turningthumb nut 13. The bar 8 may be made of any suitable material, preferablyof stamped steel. The members 10 may also be formed of stamped steel,making a very inexpensive construction. Pins 9 may be secured in the bar8 by being forced into apertures in the bar; or they may be secured inany other inexpensive and eflicient manner. Thus, taken as a whole, itwill be seen that my construction is extremely simple and inexpensive,alfording a device which may be sold at a reasonable price to beattached to an instrument had by every carpenter. It is in this featurethat my invention particularly excels; namely, the fact that, at a smalloutlay, any carpenter may be provided with an instrument attachable tohis square which will perform the work hertofore requiring expensive andcomplicated tools.

In Fig.1 I have indicated the position of a timber 20 upon which thesquare 5 is being used. The edge of bar 8 is placed against the edge ofthe timber and the angle for which the device has been set may then beeasily marked ofi on the timber. For marlo ing and cutting stairs, andfor cutting the ends and obtaining the lengths of rafters, joists andall similar members of building construction, the device need only beset to the desired angle or bevel and the marking.

and cutting may then be easily accomplished. Where it is desired toobtain lengths of rafters and the like, it is only necessary to use oneof the sets of holding devices. That is, the square may be released,say, from the left hand end of the bar in Fig. 1 and it may then bemoved parallel to its longer leg, the holding pin 9 and member 10 at theright hand end of the bar keeping the square in its proper angularposition. By properly arranging the square on the bar, rafter and likelengths may be measured off from the intercepted portions of the bar.

Having described my invention, I claim:

1. A device of the character described, comprising in combination with acarpenters square a bar, pins projectin from one faceof the bar near itsends and iaving enlarged overhanging heads, members revolubly mounted onthe bar between the ends thereof and the pins thereon, projections onsaid revoluble members adapted to engage said square and press itagainst the pins, and means for securing said members from revolution onthe bar.

2. In combination with a carpenters square, a bar, members projectingfrom one face of the bar and having portions adapted to overhang theedges of the square, and members revolubly mounted on the bar and havingportions adapted to be thrown into engagement with the square to pressthe square against said first named members.

In witness that I claim the foregoing I have hereunto subscribed my namethis 10th day of October 1911.

OMAR GIDNEY.

Witnesses:

EDWARD E. VVILLIAMs, W. O. HARDY.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressingthe Commissioner of Patents.

Washington, D. G.

